Chairman, Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Frank Archibong, has sponsored the surgery of a  three-year old boy, Emmanuel Akaniyene, who has eye cancer.
Akaniyene, who hails from Etinan Local Government Area of the state, was abandoned by his parents a year ago.
In an interview with newsmen yesterday in Eket, the Co-ordinator of Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN), an NGO, Mrs Elizabeth Akpan, said Akaniyene was abandoned by his parents due to financial constraint.
She said that the boy was diagnosed of chronic eye cancer, which he had suffered for over one year.
“I took the little boy to the funeral of the late Archibong, brother to the Chairman of Eket LGA, in a life threatening situation,’’ she said.
She stated that in spite of the grieving and mournful state of the Eket first family, Archibong who doubles as the ALGON Chairman gave the sum of N.4million for the immediate surgery and rehabilitation of master Akaniyene.
According to her, the surgery was successfully carried out at Mercy Hospital in Abak Local Government Area of the state.
Elizabeth explained that due to the severity of the ailment and the fast spread of the cancer, Akaniyene was kept in the hospital to undergo chemotherapy.
In his remarks, Founder of the CRARN, Mr Samuel Itauma, thanked the council boss for the gesture, describing the council boss as a leader, who feels the pulse of the people.
He said that there was no other way to impact on humanity than investing in the health of the people.
Itauma urged stakeholders, state governments and spirited individuals to imitate the kind gesture and true essence of leadership of the council boss.